The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 seemingly intends to be a darker look at the franchise. The Legend of Zelda is no stranger to dark themes in general, thanks to notable examples like Majora's Mask and Twilight Princess, but one still wonders how Nintendo will do things differently this time. It seems likely that the Malice associated with Calamity Ganon and his army will be at the forefront of The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2, especially considering how little is known about this new creeping substance, even after the first game's conclusion. Its return in Breath of the Wild 2 trailers could suggest that there's much more to Malice than meets the eye.
Considering Malice's relationship with Ganon, it's possible that it's demonic in nature, allowing demons to play a much bigger role in the Breath of the Wild sequel as a part of its dark tone. What's more, it seems like significant portions of the game might take place underground, potentially meaning Link will find a direct entrance to the demon world. That makes Breath of the Wild 2 the perfect opportunity to explore demons in The Legend of Zelda and explore their origins. The Breath of the Wild sequel could be the perfect opportunity to actually visit the place where demons come from as a part of Link's newest journey to save Hyrule.
The Source of Demons in The Legend of Zelda
Demons are fairly complicated creatures in The Legend of Zelda. A lot of them are transformed beings, rather than originally monstrous beings. For instance, Blind the Thief from A Link to the Past is supposedly a mortal transformed into a demon by the Dark World and his own greed. However, Skyward Sword suggests that there is a place where demons originally come from in this series. At the beginning of the game, players hear a legend about how Demise and his army of demons emerged from the earth to attack the surface dwellers. In other words, it sounds like there's a subterranean place where the most powerful demons in Zelda lore come from. Although that place hasn't shown up before, it could still be filled with monsters in Breath of the Wild's time period.
Since it's known where the original demons came from in the world of The Legend of Zelda, Nintendo can take Breath of the Wild 2 as an opportunity to explore it. Considering how the map has been expanded in the new game, it seems likely that demonic places await Link below Hyrule's surface. BotW2 famously features flying islands, but there are also signs that Link will be exploring caves and tunnels underground. What's more, the Malice that has lifted Hyrule Castle into the sky could be indicative of Malice's wider presence underground, rather than just the result of Ganondorf's corpse emitting this fearsome substance. If gateways to a demonic realm hide in Hyrule's caves and grottos, then that would explain the overwhelming amount of Malice that seems to threaten Hyrule in BotW2's trailers.
How Demons Could Influence Breath of the Wild 2
There's a number of ways that the demon would come into play in Breath of the Wild 2. For one thing, BotW2's second trailer suggests that Link and Zelda might get separated again, and Malice might have something to do with it. If Zelda is trapped by demonic minions of Ganondorf summoned through Malice, then Link might be tasked with seeking out entrances to the lair of demons by tracing the sources of Malice in Hyrule's underground. BotW2's floating islands might contain weapons and knowledge that teach Link what he needs to know before delving into the holes that the floating islands left behind.
A cavernous land full of demons could still play a part even if Ganondorf isn't working with these demons. After all, many Zelda fans remain hopeful that Demise will show up in BotW2, abandoning his heir Ganondorf and returning to full power. Demise's return would be the perfect chance to send Link on the offensive, crusading into Demise's underground kingdom and finally encountering the dark world that Demise comes from. At the same time, Ganondorf's potential redemption arc could be partially fueled by Ganondorf using his knowledge of demons and dark magic to guide Link toward Demise.
Alternatively, it's possible that Link's ultimate objective might not lie inside the demon world. On the contrary, he might need to visit it in order to defeat the true evil that lives on Hyrule's surface. Bringing Hyrule Castle out of the sky might require Link to understand Malice better by visiting the demon world and learning more about The Legend of Zelda's magic, for instance. There's no doubt that Link might encounter forbidden secrets when exploring the place demons come from, and those secrets could be pivotal in saving Hyrule once and for all.
Breath of the Wild's Dark Turn
Visiting the place that Demise and his followers came from in Skyward Sword would contribute a lot to The Legend of Zelda's overarching lore. After all, it's unclear if Demise came from a physical cavernous land beneath Hyrule, or if the underground hides portals to an alternate dimension like the Twilight Realm that allows demons to slowly but continuously enter Hyrule. Lore-minded fans would certainly appreciate some clarity on where beings like Demise and Ghirahim come from, and Breath of the Wild 2 has good cause to address that thanks to Malice.
Malice is very plausibly demonic in nature, considering the unnatural eyes and mouths that it spawns, indicating it's a thinking being in itself. The way it warps Calamity Ganon suggests that he isn't completely in control of Malice either, which could very well mean that Malice is the escaping power of the demon world that hides below Link's feet. Breath of the Wild's Link has explored Hyrule's underground thoroughly by visiting Ancient Shrines, but he may have to push past the confines of the Shrines in order to save Hyrule. Between the underground's potential presence, a new wave of Malice, and Breath of the Wild 2's potential antagonists, the demon world feels closer to The Legend of Zelda's heart than ever.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 releases in 2022 for Nintendo Switch.